U.S. Senate Press Photographers' Gallery
Jeffrey S. Kent, Director
Mark Abraham, Deputy Director
Tricia Russell, Assistant Director *
Office: S-317, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC 20510, (202) 224-6548
Studio: 151 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, (202) 224-4204 *
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR:
Dear Gallery Member:
Recently, some newspaper reporters and photographers have been asked by their organization to use video to file multi-media stories for their web sites. We remind you that use of video cameras in the Capitol complex is restricted. If your organization is considering having you record video, please contact us. For further information regarding coverage rules, please visit the Senate TV/Radio Gallery Web site.
Sincerely,
Jeff Kent
Director, Press Photographers Gallery
Photographs may be made in the public areas of the Capitol under the following
rules:
Prior Permission of the Senator or Representative being photographed is
required.
For photographs not including senators or representatives, please check
with the Gallery staff for proper procedures to secure necessary permission.
Use of tripods in public areas is restricted. Permission for their use must
be obtained from the Capitol Police, Room ST-9/U.S. Capitol.
Access to the Senate floor is prohibited. The taking of pictures of any
kind is prohibited in the Senate Chamber, the Senate Reading rooms (marble
room and Lobby), the Senate cloakrooms, the private dining rooms of the
Senate, and in the hallways on the third floor. (Senate Rule IV) Photographing
through or toward the Chamber doors is prohibited. Accredited photographers
can place requests for Senators at the northwest entrance to the chamber.
Photographers may accompany Senators into the President's room for photographs.
Photographers may stand along the south side of the Ohio Clock corridor
to contact Senators but must secure permission before photographing. Photographers
may wait east of the elevators to contact Senators and photograph them with
their permission. During formal stakeouts and party caucus luncheons, photographers
must wait in stakeout areas, except to accompany the Senator with his or
her permission. Due to space limitations, organizations may be requested
not to have more than one photographer at the stake out area in the Ohio
Clock corridor. Photographers are to avoid impeding access along these corridors.
No photographers are permitted in the House Chamber except on special occasions
such as the Joint Meetings of Congress, State of the Union addresses, etc.
Admittance on such occasions is limited and requires special credentials.
Photographing through or toward the Chamber doors is prohibited.
Accredited photographers may request members to leave the floor by placing
requests for Democratic members with the doormen at the East entrance to
the Speaker's Lobby and for Republican members at the West entrance.
Photographers asking members to leave the Floor must wear jackets and ties
to access the Speaker's Lobby to place such requests. Unless special permission
is obtained from the Speaker's office, no photographs may be made in the
corridors adjacent to the House chamber. Members should be taken outside,
to the Rayburn Reception Room or to the Will Roger's corridor for such photographs.
Generally photographs are permitted at open hearings, however, each committee
establishes its own rules governing photo coverage. Photographers are usually
allowed in committees wells, but should remain below the top of the dais
and not between the witness and members of the committee. The use of cellular
phones and other electronic communication devices is prohibited in the committee
well. It is the Gallery's right to limit the number of still photographers
in a committee's well.
Each committee has its own rules for still photography. It is the obligation
of the photographer to know these rules or to check with gallery staff or
the relevant committee for these rules. Any questions regarding these guidelines
should be directed to the Press Photographers' Gallery staff.
A portion of each chamber on the gallery level is reserved for press
use. Photographers, with the permission of the superintendent of the Press
galleries, may use these galleries to observe the proceedings.When present
in either chamber, the possession or use of photographic, recording, transmitting,
or binocular equipment is prohibited. Smoking, reading of newspapers, and
audible conversation is not permitted.
Photographers changing affiliation on which current accreditation is based
must reapply for membership.
The Senate and House of Representatives are not obligated to provide
parking for photographers covering the Congress. Check with Gallery staff
for information.
Special tables in both the House and Senate restaurants are reserved for use by the media galleries. Members are requested to consider others by vacating seats as soon as possible and are reminded that guests may not be invited during peak hours.
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
THE STANDING COMMITTEE REQUESTS ALL STILL PHOTOGRAPHERS COVERING ACTIVITIES OF THE CONGRESS CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN AN ORDERLY AND UNOBTRUSIVE MANNER. PHOTOGRAPHERS MUST ACT AND DRESS IN STRICT CONFORMITY WITH AND OBSERVANCE OF THE ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF DIGNITY, PROPRIETY, COURTESY, AND DECORUM TRADITIONALLY RESERVED FOR THE CONGRESS IN ITS OPERATIONS. THE STANDING COMMITTEE REMINDS MEMBERS THAT INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AND ATTIRE MAY RESULT IN LIMITATIONS BEING IMPOSED ON ACCESS AND COVERAGE.